Electro-surgical instrument and control



June so, 1931. D. E. ROBERTS 1,812,608

ELECTfiQSURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL Filed Oct. 24, 1929 FIG 2 INVENTOR Patented June 30, 1931 PATENT OFFICE DONALD E. ROBERTS, OF MILWAUKEE,WISCONSIN ELECTRO-SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL Application filedOctober 24, 1929.

The invention relates to an improvement in electro-surgical instrumentsand their controls and the object of the improvement is to allow theoperating surgeon to control with his operating hand the amount ofcurrent flowing to the cutting or piercing instrument.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich Figure 1e 1 is an electro-surgical instrument and Fig ure 2 is amagnetically operated spark-gap.

1, Figure 1, is the feed wire to the instrument carrying a highfrequency current through the insulated handle 2, Figure 1, to

the cutting or piercing instrument 3, Figure 1.

4, Figure 1, is a rheostat, the resistance of which is lessened bypressing insulated arm, 5, Figure 1, which. is hinged at 6, Figure 1,

2G and carries a wiping contact 7, Figure 1. The insulated arm 5, Figure1, is returned to the position of full resistance of the rheostat 4:,Figure 1, by spring 8, Figure 1.

1 and 2, Figure 2-, are the sparlcgap points of a high-frequency machinewhich delivers the current for electro-surg ry, but as no patent isclaimed on such a machine, it is not included in these specifications.

The amount of on 'rent to electro-magnet 3c 3, Figure 2, from battery l,Figure 2, is con trolled by rheostat 4, Figure 1, as shown Wired bybroken lines between Figures 1 and 2.

To operate this electrosurgical instrument,

the cutting or piercing point 3, Figure 1, is

placed, then the insulated arm 5, Figure 1,

is pressed, lowering resistance of rheostat 4,

Figure 1, causing electro-magnet 3, Figure 2,

to attract iron spark-gap point 2, Figure 2,

opening gap between spark-gap points 1 and 2, Figure 2; the tension ofspring 5, Figure 2,

keeps spark-gap points 1 and 2, Figure 2,

closed when the insulated arm 5, Figure 1,

is not pressed.

Prior to this invention, the current to electro-surgical instruments wascontrolled by setting the spark-gap open then closing a foot-switchwhich would allow the current to flow to the patient at full strength;or, the current was controlled by an assistant, who,

Serial No. 402,137.

after the cutting or piercing instrument was in place, would open thespark-gap by means of a rod or screw.

WVith the instrument described in these specifications, the surgeon cansmoothly control the current to the cutting or piercing instrument withhis operating hand, leaving one hand free, and not requiring anassistant or oral instructions to an assistant.

Due to the varying sizes of electro-surgical an instruments, no sizesare given; the experimental model being ten inches long. It is to beunderstood. that the idea of the invention is to place the control ofcurrent to the cutting instrument in the surgeons operating hand;therefore, the electro-magnet 12, F igure 2, may control a magneticallyoperated rheostat in place of the spark-gap illustrated; the spark-gaponly is shown for simplicity of illustration.

I am aware that prior to my invention, rheostats have been used tooperate electromagnets and magnets have been used to open spark-gaps. Itis also understood that I make no patent claims on the surgicalinstrument holder illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim:

An electro-surgical instrument and control consisting of a suitableinstrument hanso dle to which is hinged an insulated arm carrying awiping contact which slides in 0011- tact with a rheostat which issecured approximately at right angles to the instrument handle, incombination with a magnetically operated spark-gap; and operated bymanual pressure of the surgeons operating hand pressing upon theinsulated arm of the rheostat, thereby opening the spark-gap, allowingcurrent to flow to the operating instrument.

DONALD E. ROBERTS.

